Miramar makes statement with victory at St. Thomas before playoffs

Miramar finishes the regular season 8-1 with a win at St. Thomas Aquinas before going for a Class 8A playoff run. Players celebrate, and coach AJ Scott, running back Katravis Geter and linebacker/safety Jesse Smith react.

Miramar finishes the regular season 8-1 with a win at St. Thomas Aquinas before going for a Class 8A playoff run. Players celebrate, and coach AJ Scott, running back Katravis Geter and linebacker/safety Jesse Smith react.

How do you one-up yourself a week after clinching your first district title since 2013?

One way is to go into St. Thomas Aquinas and take down a three-time defending state champion in their place.

Freshman running back Katravis Geter ran for three touchdowns and Miramar, fresh off its victory at Western last week to clinch the District 12-8A crown, did itself one better by knocking off the Raiders 44-27 on Friday night.

Miramar scored more points against Aquinas than the Raiders had given up all season entering Friday (42).

With the win, the Patriots (8-1), likely leap Deerfield Beach in Region 3-8A for the No. 1 seed. Miramar will open the playoffs at home against the eighth seed, the last team to earn a wild-card spot in the region.

“We’re going to enjoy this tonight,” said Miramar coach AJ Scott, already anxious to find out who the Patriots will play in regional quarterfinals. “We’re going to have a good time – until I find out who my opponent is.”

St. Thomas Aquinas (8-2), which clinched the District 14-7A title last week at Blanche Ely, should remain the No. 1 seed in Region 4-7A. The Florida High School Athletic Association will release the final playoff point totals, pairings and brackets on Sunday.

(Michael Laughlin)

St. Thomas withstood Miramar blows twice to rebound from deficits, but it was the Patriots’ final punch that was insurmountable for the Raiders.

Trailing 27-23 entering the fourth quarter, a run of 21 unanswered points from Miramar started with a Steve Williams 11-yard keeper for a touchdown.

A Jesse Smith fumble forced that the Patriots recovered then led to a Ralph Hughey touchdown from 37 yards out. Then Chad Black picked off a pass of his own and eventually set up Geter for his third touchdown form in close.

“Once we throw those fours up, we know it’s a whole ‘nother mindset,” said Smith, who also had a pick-six Friday. “We drop every quarter behind us and go downhill from there.”

Miramar opened the second half by taking the lead back after surrendering it in the first half. The Patriots recovered an onside kick, Steve Williams hit Terrence Horne for 45 yards down the sideline to get them inside the Raiders’ 10-yard line and they settled for a short field goal to go up 16-14.

The Patriots added to that lead shortly thereafter. Smith intercepted a ball batted at the line of scrimmage and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown to put Miramar up 23-14.

The Raiders scored with quarterback Derek Wingo on a sneak and Nigel White had a rushing touchdown as St. Thomas erased a second deficit before Miramar made the run.

St. Thomas found itself facing the largest deficit it had seen all season, 13-0 (before the final score made that mark 17), which was even more than the 12-0 final the Raiders lost by in Peoria, Arizona against Centennial. Derek Wingo ran for a touchdown and threw for another to put Aquinas ahead 14-13 at the half.

Wingo’s 40-yard touchdown pass deep over the middle to Tavares Kelly put the Raiders in front. St. Thomas’ first touchdown came from Wingo rushing to the outside from a yard out off a play-action fake, which was set up by a long connection over the middle with senior receiver Teriq Phillips.

Miramar started Friday’s contest with a pair of rushing touchdowns from Geter.

“I was determined. Big game,” said Geter, who commended the play of his offensive line. “We’re still going to be humble. We just take it and keep going. We’ve got playoffs next week.”

The Patriots marched down the field twice like no other team has been able to do all season against the vaunted Raiders defense.

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Calvary Christian pitcher Christian Scott, coach Alan Kunkel and first baseman David Judge discuss the Eagles' win over Benjamin in a Class 4A state semifinal along with Bucs coach Jack Armstrong.

Calvary Christian pitcher Christian Scott, coach Alan Kunkel and first baseman David Judge discuss the Eagles' win over Benjamin in a Class 4A state semifinal along with Bucs coach Jack Armstrong.

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Calvary Christian pitcher Christian Scott, coach Alan Kunkel and first baseman David Judge discuss the Eagles' win over Benjamin in a Class 4A state semifinal along with Bucs coach Jack Armstrong.

Calvary Christian pitcher Christian Scott, coach Alan Kunkel and first baseman David Judge discuss the Eagles' win over Benjamin in a Class 4A state semifinal along with Bucs coach Jack Armstrong.

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North Broward Prep shortstop Xavier Edwards after the Eagles' regional final loss to Monsignor Pace.

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American Heritage players Triston Casas, Cory Acton and Ryan Cabarcas and coach Bruce Aven discuss after the Patriots top Archbishop McCarthy in a regional semifinal.

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